The new formula for success in Vietnamese films.

After more than two weeks in theaters, "Meet Me on the Day of the Eclipse" (directed by Le Thien Vien) unexpectedly became a box office "dark horse" with revenue exceeding 100 billion VND. This success demonstrates a new trend in Vietnamese cinema: when the visuals are captivating and the sound is moving, the film easily touches the emotions of the audience.

Emotional bridge

Locations such as: Lo 3 ​​village beach, Hoc Gao parish church, Hoc Ram (Dak Lak); Lang Song Minor Seminary, Quy Hoa leprosy village (Gia Lai); Bac Ai hill area (Khanh Hoa)... have created a space that is both nostalgic and vibrant for "Meeting You on the Eclipse Day". Each frame is not simply a backdrop, but becomes part of the story, contributing to shaping the emotions and memories of the characters. In addition, the music in the work also brought tears to the eyes of many viewers with songs such as: "Please Keep My Child", "A Promise Made Without Words", "Just That Much", "Springtime"...

The setting is meticulously crafted in "Who Loves Whom?"

The trend of Vietnamese films investing in settings and soundtracks (OSTs) is not new. Previously, in "Ai thương ai mến," director Thu Trang made an effort to recreate life in the old Southwestern region of Vietnam with simple, nostalgic scenes. Following that, in the film "Tài" (directed by Mai Tài Phến), audiences were amazed by the expansive shots of the vast river landscape, lush green rice fields, bustling fish markets, and busy boat docks... Or in "Quỷ nhập tràng 2" (directed by Pom Nguyễn), the An Giang region was showcased with its unique beauty, especially the images of traditional weaving and dyeing workshops, rich in Vietnamese culture.

Audiences will continue their journey on the big screen with scenes rich in Southern Vietnamese folklore and Khmer culture in "The Five-Toed Pig" (directed by Luu Thanh Luan), or many unique locations appearing on screen for the first time in Moc Chau ( Son La ): Ta Phinh stone village, Mu Suong valley, or Bat Cave in "Phi Phong: The Blood Demon of the Sacred Forest" (directed by Do Quoc Trung).

In terms of music, "Thank You for Staying Up with Me" (directed by Chung Chi Cong) set a record with 14 theme songs, including 10 new compositions written specifically for the film and 4 songs whose copyrights were purchased, performed by singers such as Nguyen Ha, Phung Khanh Linh, Nguyen Hung, Cong Duong, Nguyen Lam Thao Tam... The series of songs: "Because We Love Each Other Too Much" (from the film "Who Loves Whom"), "The Winter Solstice Child" (from the film "My Father's House Has One Room"), "Where to Go to See Flowers Flying" (from the film "My Child Tells My Father"), "Only Calling Each Other's Names" and "Doc" (from the film "Talent")... all captivated their respective audiences.

Success comes from meticulousness.

Behind the beautiful visuals and moving melodies lies a grueling production process. Set designer Bui Bao Quoc revealed that the "Who Loves Whom" team spent 12 days just to complete the house of the character Hai Men. "Without roads, all materials had to be transported by boat and farm trucks. We had to mobilize nearly 400 boat trips and more than 50 farm truck trips to get everything we needed," said Bui Bao Quoc.

Similarly, for "Trùm Sò" (directed by Đức Thịnh), the producers invested heavily in building an entire village in Phan Rang (Khánh Hòa). Harsh weather conditions, especially sandstorms, delayed filming and increased production costs. Likewise, the film crew of "Phí Phông: Quỷ máu rừng thiêng" invested significant time and effort in filming in challenging terrains in Mộc Châu (Sơn La), facing harsh weather conditions such as frost and flash floods.

In the music department, the investment was equally significant. Director Chung Chi Cong held a casting call to find a suitable OST for "Thank You for Staying Up with Me," attracting nearly 200 new compositions. Meanwhile, many film crews chose to commission famous singer-songwriters such as Phan Manh Quynh, My Tam, Nguyen Hung, etc., or selected familiar songs that were suitable for the film. In addition, the release strategy for the OSTs was carefully calculated by the teams to maintain momentum and attract audience attention to the film.

Investing in setting and music is necessary, even mandatory. However, these two elements need to be placed within a harmonious whole—the story, script, acting, etc.—to maximize their value, rather than being merely superficial displays. A successful work is one that balances these elements.

VAN TUAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cong-thuc-thanh-cong-moi-cua-phim-viet-post848406.html